#52

Sounds like you guys had an awesome time with the Taylors! I love the pictures you posted on google drive. Sorry I have not been so good with pictures lately, just because I have not really done anything cool for P-day lately. I feel a little trapped in the city. I have been itching to get out to the wilderness or something. We have talked about going fishing in the river here. I feel okay about staying here. The area has completely changed just with putting the two areas together and having a new companionship. I know the city like the back of my hand and I feel comfortable with all the members and the investigators so it has been a lot of fun. 

This week I had an interesting thing happen. We were on our way to go knock doors and 3 guys stopped us. I figured that it would be to talk about who we were and why we are here but it turned out to be 3 guys that work for immagration. They asked us to take out our residency cards, which I don´t have. I have a long story about all of that which started when I got my wallet stolen in the metro. They ended up taking me away from my comps and putting me in their car and driving me to the immagrations office in Talavera. My companions were to meet me at the office when they were done checking me. So I drove away in the car of 3 immigration officers. It was not bad, they were talking about the world cup so I asked about who was playing that night and then they talked about how USA was doing pretty well this year. They checked out my story and the next day I was finaly able to put down my fingerprints so Ï could get my new card. I have been trying to update my immigration card for the for the past 6 months! So it actually worked out very well. Now I am legal in Spain again. It was a fun experience. I was a little nervous at first but it made for a good story. 

David should be getting baptized this Sunday. He has true desire to be baptized! It has been amazing to see him change from the moment that I stopped him on the street until now. I don´t think I will be the one baptizing him... just becuase he wants my companion to do it for some reason. I think I am to serious with him or something haha. I get him to get stuff done! 

President Jackson and his wife came down to Talavera yesterday. It was a pretty chaotic Sunday as usual in our little branch but it was good for them to see that. They came down to interview us three just to see how we are doing. We don´t get to see much of President like you do in Madrid. 

Training has been fun. There is a whole program that you follow called "12 Weeks" We get an extra hour to study and pratice so that Elder Ávila can feel a little more comfortable about teaching. Josh will probably be doing the same! I can´t believe that he only has 2 weeks left. Those are are going to fly by. He seems very prepared though. He is going to do awesome!! 

For the 4th of July, I cooked up some Peach Cobbler which turned out great! We also ordered a bunch of chicken for lunch. We have made the goal here to start eating a lot more healthy. This week Ï bought 3 premade salads, fruit, meat and cereal. We have been running in the morning and doing p90x at night. If you want to get fit abs I would recommend it. Abb ripper X!! 

Well that is basically all that went down this week. I have been studying the Atonement lately. It has really helped me to understand the perfect role that Jesus Christ played and how incrediblaly important He is. I am going to try and get to know him more and more every day. If I wasn´t subconciuosly before, I am going to put forth a true effort.

Love you Mom! Hope you have a great week! 

Amo-te Mae (Portuguese)

#51

It sounds like it was a fun and eventful week for everybody! I am glad that everyone had a good time with grandma andersons birthday party! Was that at our house or at somebody elses? That is crazy to think that she is 90 years old. I wonder what the work will be like for me in 70 years. I wish that I was home to see Josh give his talk and bare his testimony. He sent me his talk in an email and he sounded like a very well educated author. Bravo bravo. 

I have talked to a couple sisters that are in my group that came out with me and it is insane that they leave in September. That is so soon! I'm sure it felt a little too short for you on your mission. Here in the mission, all of the Elders workout harder than they did before the last six months of their mission and they call it 6 months to sexy. So watch out! haha

I had a very spiritually uplifting week this week. The first part of the week went pretty well. We were able to include some more members in our lessons. We only have 3 members here in Talavera so it is a tough one to do that. Thursday we got up at 4 am and caught a bus to Madrid for a zone conference. That was the highlight of my week. We listened to President Jackson and his Wife and his Assistants. I left that meeting completly refilled and recharged. The rest of the week was completely affected by that meeting. I have never had such good lessons with the people here. I have been working harder on asking questions that cause them to think and then leaving them time to think. Our investigators have opened up a lot more than ever and I am starting to see some real progression from some of them. I am really excited to see what happens in this area in the next couple of weeks. 

I included this in Joshies letter but I will tell it to you as well. 

I could keep telling you over and over again that the mission is amazing man. There definitely are trials out here just like you described in your talk but that is how you learn. I had an awesome zone conference and I came out of it completely recharged and ready to work. There is a joy that you will feel in Guatemala that you have never felt in your life before. This week I met a 29 year old girl from Ecuador that we practice english with. The second time meeting with her we started to talk a little bit about God. She shared what she believed and how she came to that belief. She is soooo close to the truth and she needs to do is read the Book of Mormon and pray for a testimony and she is there. The next couple days I prayed with all my heart for that girl. I have never wanted somebody to have the truth of the gospel more than this girl. I don´t know why. I have talked to her for a total of 2 hours but I know that the gospel will eternally bless her. You will feel love for people in your mission and I think this is what this work is all about . Love.  A new part of your heart will open and you will develop a desire to help people.

I am loving the mission. More this past week than most. We are still having a hard time on finding new people to teach but my attitude on contacting has changed from why do I have to contact this person to why shouldn't I contact this person and I have come home a lot more satisfied. 

Pday we just hung out in the park and through frisbies and had fun. We went to an American burger place and devoured  the best hambugers I have had since I left. I am American and my body was asking for that. Don´t worry though I bought a Spanish cook book today and I am going to start cooking my own meals. I bought fresh ingredients and I hope that I can master a couple dishes before I come home :)

Well I love you Mom! I hope that you have a great week! The church is true and my testimony grows every day of it. 

Take care,

Elder Miles